Play catches conscience of kings
Among the many highly popular television drama series depicting palace intrigues one stands out, not only for its superb cinematography and beautiful locations, but also for its convincing plot and characterizations that are almost Shakespearean in context and substance.
The rebellious prince in Mu Jia Feng Yun, which literally translated means Tempest in the House of Mu, is a complex lead character in the Shakespearean mold, although he is eventually redeemed by the magnanimity of his nephew the king instead of falling on his own or his enemy's sword.
The plot revolves around the ruling Mu family in Lijiang, Yunnan province, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At that time the region was inhabited by various ethnic groups. The largest was the Naxi to which the Mu family belong. and although a vassal to the Ming court the fictional Mu family rules with absolute power in the region.
